Uma Musume Pretty Derby

Uma Musume Pretty Derby

Company type	Multimedia franchise
Industry	Video games, anime, manga, live performances
Founded	2016
Founder	Cygames
Headquarters	Tokyo , Japan
Area served	Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, China, global (English)
Products	Mobile game, PC game, anime series, manga, live events
Owner	Cygames
Parent	Cygames
Website	umamusume.jp

Uma Musume Pretty Derby is a Japanese multimedia franchise developed by Cygames. The series centers on anthropomorphized racehorses, called , who participate in competitions inspired by authentic race tracks overseen by the Japan Racing Association. Each character’s name is derived from a real racehorse, reflecting their traits, achievements, and connections.

Originally revealed in 2016 as a mobile game, the franchise expanded to include several anime adaptations, manga, and live performances. The game debuted in February 2021 for iOS and Android devices, followed by a Windows client release on DMM Games one month later. In April 2023, it became accessible via Google Play Games. Localization efforts included a Korean version through Kakao Games and Traditional Chinese via Komoe Game in June 2022; the Korean PC edition launched the following year. Simplified Chinese support was introduced on Bilibili in August 2024. An English-language version was globally released in June 2025 across all platforms, featuring an exclusive Steam edition for English-speaking audiences.

The anime adaptation produced by P.A. Works aired from April to June 2018. Its second season, created by Studio Kai with assistance from P.A. Works, was broadcast January to March 2021. The third season, solely produced by Studio Kai, aired between October and December 2023.

Additional anime spin-offs enrich the franchise: Umayon aired July to September 2020, followed by its sequel Umayuru debuting in October 2022. Cygames’ internal studio, CygamesPictures, produced the web series Uma Musume Pretty Derby: Road to the Top, which aired April to May 2023, as well as the film Uma Musume Pretty Derby: Beginning of a New Era, released in May 2024. The anime adaptation of Uma Musume: Cinderella Gray, also by CygamesPictures, premiered in April 2025 alongside the short web spin-off Umayuru: Pretty Gray.

Gameplay

Uma Musume Pretty Derby is a sports simulation game where players assume the role of "trainers," cultivating horse girls to compete in races. The game incorporates a gacha mechanic to acquire two categories of units: "trainees" (playable horse girls) and "support cards," which grant various skills and enhancements.

The core gameplay mode, "Career," allows players to pick a trainee, assemble support cards, and work toward defined objectives. It operates on a calendar system where each activity consumes one turn, representing half a month within a Japanese academic year, necessitating careful strategic decisions.

Within Career mode, players distribute turns among training sessions (which improve stats), resting periods, recreational activities, or participating in races to gain skill points and expand their fanbase. The trainee’s mood influences the effectiveness of training bonuses.

Training focuses on five key attributes: speed (maximum running velocity), stamina (endurance duration), power (acceleration and positioning), guts (extra stamina during the race’s final stages), and wit (activation of special skills). Players must balance these elements according to each trainee’s statistics, racing style, and chosen support cards.

Whether career goals are achieved or missed, the trainee’s accumulated stats and skills are preserved as "legacies," which enhance subsequent trainees through inheritance. This roguelike progression system fosters ongoing advancement across multiple playthroughs, akin to titles such as Hades and Risk of Rain.

Plot

Uma Musume Pretty Derby takes place in a fictional universe that closely resembles the contemporary world but is distinguished by the presence of "horse girls," female kemonomimi characters exhibiting equine features who stand in for actual horses. Many of these characters draw inspiration from real-world racehorses, competing as both racers and idols in structured races akin to middle-distance track events. The narrative centers on horse girls attending Tracen Academy in Tokyo, where they prepare for the Twinkle Series, a set of professional races overseen by the Umamusume Racing Association (URA). The storylines highlight individual characters, loosely reflecting the racing histories of their real-life equine counterparts.

Anime

The primary anime series follows Team Spica’s horse girls at Tracen Academy. Each season builds upon the last, incorporating historical elements that mirror the authentic racing careers of its featured characters.

• The first season spotlights Special Week, a horse girl from a rural area determined to become Japan’s top racer while admiring Silence Suzuka. It covers races from 1997 to 1999 and includes characters such as King Halo, El Condor Pasa, among others.
• The second season centers on Tokai Teio, focusing on her injuries and efforts to maintain her elite status, alongside figures like Mejiro McQueen and Rice Shower. This arc depicts races from 1991 through 1993.
• The third season highlights the rivalry between Kitasan Black and Satono Diamond, delving into their competition against emerging talents including Duramente and Cheval Grand. It portrays races spanning 2015 to 2017.

The titles Road to the Top and Beginning of a New Era emphasize Narita Top Road and Jungle Pocket, showcasing their rivalries with horses such as T M Opera O and Admire Vega, based on Japanese Triple Crown contests from 1999 and 2001.

Manga

Cinderella Gray and its anime adaptation depict fierce competitions involving Oguri Cap at local racecourses, contending with rivals from nearby generations like Tamamo Cross and Super Creek. This storyline covers the period from 1987 to 1990, bridging the late Shōwa era into the early Heisei era.

Star Blossom follows Sakura Laurel alongside competitors such as Narita Brian, focusing on races in 1993 before Sakura Laurel's official debut.

Video game

The main story’s first part begins with Oguri Cap’s retirement and Mejiro McQueen’s rise in 1990, extending through Special Week’s races in 1999.

Part two introduces Rhein Kraft, Cesario, Air Messiah, and Daring Heart—four horses born in 2002 who notably competed in the 2005 Oka Sho, securing first through fourth places.

Stage play

Sprinters' Story revolves around Daitaku Helios and the sprint horse races held in 1991.

Live events

• Uma Musume 1st Event "Special Weekend!" (July 1, 2017)
• Uma Musume 2nd Event "Sound Fanfare!" (October 14, 2018)
• Uma Musume 3rd Event "Winning Dream Stage" (August 28–29, 2021)
• Uma Musume 4th Event "Special Dreamers!!"
  • Tokyo Stage (March 6–7, 2022)
  • Yokohama Stage (May 4–5, 2022)
  • Extra Stage (November 5–6, 2022)
• Uma Musume 5th Event Arena Tour "Go Beyond"
  • -Wish- (July 15–16, 2023)
  • -Gaze- (September 16–17, 2023)
  • -Yell- (February 3–4, 2024)
  • -New Gate- (March 22–23, 2024)
• Uma Musume 6th Event "The New Frontier"
  • -Spring Performance- (May 24–25, 2025)
  • -Autumn Performance- (October 18–19, 2025)

Uma Musume Pretty Derby

Initially revealed in 2016, Uma Musume Pretty Derby debuted with an animated trailer produced by P.A. Works during AnimeJapan that same year. Although originally planned for release in late 2018, the launch was postponed and the game finally became available on February 24, 2021. The PC edition followed shortly after, releasing on March 10, 2021 through DMM Games, with a Google Play Games version arriving on April 19, 2023. A dedicated YouTube channel named Pakatube! was launched in March 2018, featuring Gold Ship as a central figure. By May 2025, the title boasted 114 playable characters, and Part 2 of the main storyline was introduced in March 2024.

For Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau markets, Komoe Game issued a traditional Chinese localization in June 2022 after opening pre-registrations in April. In South Korea, Kakao Games released the game on June 20, 2022; pre-registration numbers exceeded one million within ten days. A Korean PC version became available on June 15, 2024. Meanwhile, Bilibili launched a simplified Chinese edition in China on August 30, 2023, which also surpassed one million pre-registrations within ten days.

On June 24, 2024, an English-language version was unveiled during a Paka Live TV broadcast on Pakatube!. To support the English launch, Cygames partnered with prominent U.S. horse racing events such as the Breeders' Cup Sprint (2024) and the Unbridled Sidney Stakes held during the 2025 Kentucky Derby weekend. Additionally, Cygames operated a booth at Churchill Downs, where visitors could try demos of Uma Musume alongside other Cygames titles.

The English release and Steam PC versions for both Japanese and English languages were announced on April 27, 2025. Pre-registration opened the following day, with the official launch set for June 26. The English version is exclusively accessible via Steam.

Uma Musume Pretty Derby: Party Dash

Released on August 30, 2024 for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Steam platforms, Uma Musume Pretty Derby: Party Dash (ウマ娘 プリティーダービー 熱血ハチャメチャ大感謝祭) is a party-style video game. Its announcement came during the Nintendo Direct livestream on June 21, 2023.

The game includes competitive mini-games such as obstacle racing and dodgeball, capitalizing on the established popularity of the Uma Musume franchise to broaden its audience. As part of promotional efforts to increase player interest and brand recognition, the character Still in Love was introduced on February 22, 2024.

Uma Musume Pretty Derby: Haru Urara, Do Your Best!

This manga series titled , created by writer Katsumi Nakayama and illustrator Huan Yu (ZECO), was serialized on Cygames' Cycomics platform from May 8 through September 11, 2016, comprising ten chapters total. The narrative draws inspiration from the real-life figure Haru Urara and was supported by Mother Farm as well as the Kochi Prefecture Horse Racing Association. The series is no longer distributed and has never been collected into tankōbon volumes.

Starting Gate!: Uma Musume Pretty Derby

Serialized beginning March 25, 2017 on Cygames' Cycomics website, this manga titled , authored by Cygames and illustrated by S. Kosugi, has been compiled into six tankōbon volumes as of March 18, 2022.

Umayon

The four-panel manga series Umayon, created by Jet Kuma, was published on Cygames' Cycomics platform from March 30, 2018, until January 15, 2021. Its compiled tankōbon edition is exclusively included with the anime's Blu-ray Box set and is not available for individual sale.

Uma Musume: Cinderella Gray

Uma Musume: Cinderella Gray, produced by Junnosuke Itō, penned by Masafumi Sugiura, and illustrated by Taiyō Kuzumi, debuted in Shueisha's Weekly Young Jump on June 11, 2020. The first volume compilation was published on January 19, 2021. By June 2025, the series had reached twenty volumes. The narrative primarily follows the character Oguri Cap.

Uma Musume Pretty Derby: Uma Musumeshi

A spin-off titled Uma Musume Pretty Derby: Uma Musumeshi began its serialization on Cygames' Cycomics website starting March 2, 2023. As of December 2024, five volumes have been issued.

Uma Musume Pretty Derby: Star Blossom

The manga Uma Musume Pretty Derby: Star Blossom, written by Monjūsaki and illustrated by Shin Hotani, started serialization on April 10, 2023. It is available across Shueisha's digital outlets including Shōnen Jump+, the YanJan! app, and Tonari no Young Jump. Four volumes had been released as of March 2025. The story centers around the protagonist Sakura Laurel.

Uma Musume: PisuPisu☆SupiSupi Golshi-chan

Beginning November 29, 2023, Naoki Shibata’s comedic manga Uma Musume: PisuPisu☆SupiSupi Golshi-chan was serialized on Shogakukan's Weekly CoroCoro Comic website. This work features Gold Ship depicted as a kindergartener. To date, five volumes have been published.

Anime

The anime television adaptation aired from April 2 through June 18, 2018, on Tokyo MX, with the premiere consisting of two consecutive episodes. Crunchyroll handled streaming rights. Directed by Kei Oikawa at P.A. Works, the scripts were crafted by Masafumi Sugiura and Akihiro Ishihara. Music composition was provided by The Utamaro Movement under Lantis. Team Spica performed both the opening theme "Make Debut!" and ending theme "Grow-up Shine!", featuring voice actresses portraying characters such as Special Week, Silence Suzuka, and Tokai Teio.

The second season broadcast from January 5 to March 30, 2021, with Studio Kai taking over animation production while P.A. Works offered support. The opening theme "Yume o Kakeru!" ("Run for Our Dreams!") was delivered by Team Spica; the ending theme "Komorebi no Yell" ("Sunbeam Cheer") featured Tokai Teio and Mejiro McQueen. On February 22, 2022, a "1st Anniversary Special Animation" was released via YouTube to celebrate the game's first anniversary and continued the storyline from season two.

Announced on November 6, 2022, the third season saw Shingo Nagai and Tetsuya Kobari overseeing script supervision with Studio Kai and returning staff members involved in production. This season aired between October 5 and December 28, 2023. The opening theme "Soshite Minna no" was performed by Kitasan Black (Hinaki Yano), Satono Diamond (Hina Tachibana), Satono Crown (Sayumi Suzushiro), Cheval Grand (Yūko Natsuyoshi), Sounds of Earth (Makiko), and Duramente (Akina). The ending theme "Akogare Challenge Dash!!" ("Longing for a Challenge Dash!!") featured Kitasan Black alongside Team Spica.

Original net animations

An anime series inspired by the four-panel manga spin-off was broadcast between July 7 and September 22, 2020. This project, directed by Seiya Miyajima and produced by DMM.futureworks alongside W-Toon Studio, was eventually released on Blu-ray on December 8, 2021. The Blu-ray compilation included the principal storyline, a dozen new OVA episodes, and a manga tankōbon volume.

On May 5, 2022, a new short anime series titled was revealed. Produced by Scooter Films, it saw the return of Miyajima as both director and character designer, with the script penned by Seiichirō Mochizuki and Yumi Suzumori. This series was available for streaming on YouTube from October 16, 2022, through March 26, 2023.

Another brief anime installment, , was launched on YouTube from April 30 to May 6, 2025. Its release aligned with promotional efforts and the announcement of the game’s Steam edition debuting on June 26, broadening the franchise’s presence across platforms and expanding its market influence.

Spin-offs and film

On May 4, 2022, an anime ONA series named was announced. The animation was handled by CygamesPictures, directed by Chengzhi Liao, with script supervision by Tetsuya Kobari and chief animation direction by Jun Yamazaki. This series made its debut on YouTube on April 16, 2023. Following this, a compilation film premiered in Japanese cinemas on May 10, 2024, running for two weeks prior to the release of Beginning of a New Era.

An anime feature film titled , featuring Jungle Pocket, was disclosed on December 28, 2023. The theme track "Ready!! Steady!! Derby!!" is performed by Jungle Pocket (Yuri Fujimoto), Agnes Tachyon (Sumire Uesaka), Manhattan Cafe (Yui Ogura), and Dantsu Flame (Haruna Fukushima). CygamesPictures produced the animation with Ken Yamamoto as director. The screenplay was written by Kiyoko Yoshimura; Tetsuya Kobari oversaw scenario direction; Jun Yamazaki handled character design; and Masaru Yokoyama composed the music. The film was released in theaters across Japan on May 24, 2024.

An anime adaptation of the Uma Musume: Cinderella Gray manga was announced on August 23, 2024. Created by CygamesPictures and directed jointly by Yūki Itō and Takehiro Miura, with series composition by Aki Kindaichi and music composed by Kenji Kawai, this adaptation will be broadcast in two split cours on TBS and its affiliates. The initial cour airs from April 6 to June 29, 2025; the second cour is scheduled for October 2025. The opening theme "Koeru" (Surpass) is performed by Alexandros, while the ending theme "∞" is delivered by Tomoyo Takayanagi as her character Oguri Cap. Remow secured streaming rights for North America via Amazon Prime Video, select regions through It's Anime’s YouTube channel, Latin America via Anime Onegai, Europe through ADN, and Asia-Pacific on Netflix.

Stage play

Uma Musume Pretty Derby: Sprinters' Story ran at Stellar Ball in Shinagawa Prince Hotel, Tokyo from January 15 to January 29, 2023. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, performances scheduled between January 16 and January 26 were canceled but resumed starting January 27. The narrative centers around characters Daitaku Helios, Yamanin Zephyr, Daiichi Ruby, and K.S. Miracle as they compete in the Takamatsunomiya Cup.

Popularity

This franchise has evolved into a multi-billion dollar cultural icon within Japan, highlighting values such as determination and collaboration that resonate widely. Although its primary audience is Japanese, the series has extended its presence to other Asia-Pacific regions through an English-language release, demonstrating its international appeal.

Reviews from critics have been largely positive, commending the variety of content and recognizing a notable resurgence of horse racing culture driven by idol performances and slice-of-life storytelling. The game enjoys "generally favorable" ratings on Metacritic. Its idol phenomenon is reflected in the extensive sharing of covers and dance renditions of the track Umapyoi Densetsu across social media platforms, including prominent showcases like the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles' fan gathering in December 2021.

The phrase "Umapyoi (do)" denotes performing the song Umapyoi Densetsu. Its first television appearance on NHK's "Shibuya Note" in July 2021 sparked widespread trending activity on Twitter. Since then, it has become a staple performance by Japan Self-Defense Force bands at major Japan Racing Association events such as the Japanese Derby and Japan Cup.

In January 2023, Umapyoi Densetsu achieved "Gold" certification from the Recording Industry Association of Japan, having surpassed 50 million streams.

After the global English launch on June 26, 2025, Steam player numbers stabilized between 15,000 and 30,000 users, aided by influential content creators and Cygames' presentation at Anime Expo 2025. Social media enthusiasm around the racing mechanics heightened interest in the real-life horses that inspired the characters. The release of Kitasan Black's Support Banner propelled concurrent Steam players to a peak of 87,000, fueled by favorable feedback from Japanese fans.

Revenue

By December 16, 2021—ten months post-launch—the mobile game had generated nearly () in revenue within Japan, securing the position as the ninth top-grossing mobile game worldwide for 2021. Total annual earnings for that year reached () . As of March 2024, Sensor Tower reports cumulative revenue exceeding () .

Kadokawa Corporation's "Famitsu Mobile Game White Paper 2022" estimated domestic sales in 2021 at (), significantly outpacing competitors. On Google Play Japan’s sales charts, the game maintained first place for an impressive streak of 111 consecutive days from February through June 2021.

The title also ranked second in Nikkei Trendy's "Top 30 Hit Products of 2021" and earned several distinctions in Google Play’s Best of 2021 awards, including "Best Game of 2021," the User Voting Grand Prize, and recognition in the Exciting Category.

Following launch, CyberAgent recorded unprecedented sales figures: () for Q1 2021—a year-over-year increase of —and () for Q2 2021, representing further growth compared to the previous year. These results led to an upward revision of full-year revenue forecasts and stimulated discussions about market influence during financial briefings among other mobile game firms.

The game alone has amassed over () in revenue within Japan, establishing itself as one of the nation’s most lucrative mobile titles and underscoring its deep cultural impact and devoted fan community.

On a global scale, Pocket Gamer reports that within the first month after worldwide release, total earnings reached $45.4 million, with more than half (50.3%) stemming from markets outside Japan. The United States accounted for 68% of this international revenue and contributed to 34% of overall global income.

Manga

The manga adaptation, Uma Musume: Cinderella Gray, earned a nomination for Best Print Manga at the seventh Next Manga Awards, securing second place out of 50 contenders, trailing behind Oshi no Ko.

Anime

The Blu-ray edition of the anime’s second season achieved the distinction of being the top-selling home video release for a television anime in Japan. The compilation movie, Uma Musume Pretty Derby: Road to the Top, opened at sixth place in the Japanese box office rankings. Two weeks afterward, Uma Musume Pretty Derby: Beginning of a New Era debuted at number one in box office revenue, generating over ¥354 million, while ranking second in audience attendance.

Between April and June 2025, the series claimed the top position globally on the AniLab Global Weekly Anime Rankings on four separate occasions. During the spring 2025 season, it also led Anime Trending’s weekly charts for international viewers from week seven until the finale, outperforming other popular titles such as Witch Watch.

Uma Musume Cinderella Gray received the Spring Anime Award from Anime Corner, a platform boasting 20 million monthly users worldwide. It was recognized as a "genuine Cinderella story," marking the first instance of a series winning the final ranking without ever topping weekly polls. International audiences applauded its late surge in popularity, drawing parallels to the character Oguri Cap.

Others

Masayuki Gotō, who served as the 15th chairman of the Japan Racing Association (JRA), acknowledged Uma Musume Pretty Derby for its beneficial influence on the horse racing sector during an interview in December 2021.

The term "Uma Musume" was nominated for the 2021 U-Can New Word and Popular Phrase Awards and clinched the grand prize in the 2021 Internet Popular Words 100, organized by Dwango and Pixiv. Thirteen characters from the franchise appeared among the top 100 entries, with "Gold Ship (Uma Musume)" ranking second. The actual racehorse Gold Ship also placed fifth.

In 2022, Abema, part of CyberAgent, provided live and free coverage of all 64 matches of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Japan for the first time—a venture largely supported by revenue generated from Uma Musume Pretty Derby.

In May 2025, alongside Cygames sponsoring the 151st Kentucky Derby, an exhibit featuring the franchise was presented at the Smithsonian-affiliated International Museum of the Horse located at Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky. The exhibit titled Uma no Kokoro ("Heart of the Horse") showcases Japan’s equestrian traditions and sporting legacy. This exhibition was also displayed during Expo 2025 in Osaka and at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in France, in cooperation with France Galop ahead of the Cygames Grand Prix de Paris.

In 2021, Cygames collaborated with Paramount Pictures on a Japan-exclusive promotional campaign linking Uma Musume Pretty Derby with Top Gun: Maverick. The character Mayano Top Gun—whose name partly references the original 1986 film—was featured as a special advertising pilot, depicted as Pete "Maverick" Mitchell (Tom Cruise) on an alternate movie poster. Four voice actresses, including Mio Hoshitani (voice of Mayano Top Gun), attended the Japanese premiere held in Yokohama, engaging in promotional activities and meeting Tom Cruise and producer Jerry Bruckheimer.